Folding umbrella

ABSTRACT

A folding umbrella having the rib structure wherein an end rib is spaced from a main rib and connected thereto through a connecting link and a strut is connected to one of said connecting link, said end rib and an auxiliary link, which is capable of being closed into two positions, namely, the collapsed closed position and the uncollapsed closed position, according to necessity.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,850,188 Saito 1451' Nov. 26, 1974 FOLDING UMBRELLA 3,638,668 2/1972 Kida 135 25 R 3,672,381 6 1972 Kida et al. 135/22v [76] Inventor- K810 9' 3,693,642 9/1972 Kida et al 135/25 R ohtonnakamachl, Osaka, Japan 3,746,024 7 1973 Kida 135 25 R [22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1972 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell PP N04 3151659 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 31, 1972 Japan 47-32427 [57] ABSTRACT A folding umbrella having the rib structure wherein an [52] us. Cl. 135/25 R, 135/22 end rib is p d fr m a main ri and connected [51] Int. Cl. A45b 25/14, A45b 25/ 16 thereto oug a connecting link and a strut is con- [58] Field of Search .L 135/20-26 nected to one of Said connecting link, said end i and an auxiliary link, which is capable of being closed into [56] References Cit d two positions, namely, the collapsed closed position UNITED STATES PATENTS and the uncollapsed closed position, according to ne- 177,339 5/1876 Kirkham 135/25 R cesslty 3,467,115 9 1969 Brooks et al 135/25 R 21 Claims, 39 Drawing Figures PATENTEL HOV 26 I974 SHEET 02 0F 20 PATENTELnuvzsmn saw usurzo f 7 5 1 PATENTELNUVZEIBH 3.850.188 SHEET 08 0F ,20

FIG. l6

PATENTEL 3.850.188

sum 12 or 20 FIG. 26

FIG. 25

PATENTEL M81126 I974 sum 17 0F 20 

1. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower eNds of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to one of said auxiliary link, said connecting link and said end rib, including the pivotal joints thereof.
 2. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link composed of a first connecting link member and a second connecting link member and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to said auxiliary link at a position spaced from the joint of said auxiliary link and said main rib.
 3. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link is composed of a first connecting link member and a second connecting link member and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to said end rib.
 4. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possibly tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod.
 5. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possibly tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod.
 6. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possible tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod.
 7. A foLding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly.
 8. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly.
 9. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly.
 10. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which fruther comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link.
 11. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link.
 12. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link.
 13. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an actuator slidably mounted on the center rod under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link.
 14. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an acutator slidably mounted on the center actuator under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link.
 15. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an actuator slidably mounted on the center rod under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link.
 16. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed.
 17. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 14, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed.
 18. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 15, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed.
 19. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator.
 20. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 14, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator.
 21. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator. 